Another month…and another great list of interesting historical facts!!
Did you know that Janet Jackson…
01 February 2004
On February 1st, 2004, in what was perhaps the most controversial halftime show in Super Bowl history, pop singer Janet Jackson experienced a “wardrobe malfunction”…and DID YOU KNOW that Justin Timberlake was actually SUPPOSED to pull away the bustier and leave the red-lace bra.”?
Did you know that Groundhog Day…
02 February 1887
On February 2nd,1887, Groundhog Day, featuring the well known rodent meteorologist, is celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania…and DID YOU KNOW that it wasn’t until over 100 years later, in 1993, the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray popularized the usage of “groundhog day” to mean something that is repeated over and over.
Did you know “American Pie”…
03 February 1959
On February 3rd, 1959, Rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed when their plane crashes in Iowa…and DID YOU KNOW that Don McLean memorialized the three deaths in the 1972 with the No. 1 hit “American Pie,” which refers to February 3rd as “the day the music died.”
Did you know the Snow White…
04 February 1938
On February 4th, 1938, Disney released “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”…and DID YOU KNOW that John Lennon claimed the song “Do you want to know a secret” was inspired by the Snow White tune “I’m Wishing” that his mother used to sing him.
Did you know Hank Aaron…
05 February 1934
On February 5th, 1934, Henry Louis Aaron Jr., the baseball slugger who broke Babe Ruth’s legendary record of 714 homers, is born in Mobile, Alabama and DID YOU KNOW that his home run record stood for over 33 years until it was broken by Barry Bonds?
Did you know Of Mice and Men…
06 February 1937
On February 6th, 1937, John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men, the story of the bond between two migrant workers, is published…and DID YOU KNOW that he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962 after writing Travels with Charlie?
Did you know The Beatles…
07 February 1964
On February 7th, 1964, Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight 101 from London Heathrow landed at New York’s JFK Airport—and “Beatlemania” arrives and DID YOU KNOW that they made 18 albums before they finally parted ways?
Did you know Spud Webb…
08 February 1986
On February 8th, 1986, Spud Webb, one of the shortest players in NBA history at 5’7”, won the NBA slam dunk contest…and DID YOU KNOW he beat his Atlanta Hawks teammate and 1985 dunk champ, the 6’8” Dominique Wilkins.
Did you know Day Light Savings Time…
09 February 1942
On February 9th, 1942, Congress pushed ahead standard time for the United States by one hour in each time zone, imposing daylight saving time—called at the time “war time”…and DID YOU KNOW that this was suggested by President Roosevelt, was imposed to conserve fuel, and could be traced back to World War I.
Did you know the WWF…
10 February 1989
On February 10th, 1989, To gain deregulation, the World Wrestling Federation admits pro wrestling is an exhibition & not a sport, in a NJ court…and DID YOU KNOW it changed its name to the WWE in 2002 due to a lost lawsuit over the WWF trademark – to the World Wildlife Fund?
Did you know Whitney Houston…
11 February 2012
On February, 11th, 2012, Pop superstar Whitney Houston died at age 48…and DID YOU KNOW that she remains the only artist to have 7 consecutive number 1 hits on Billboard’s top 100 chart…and DID YOU KNOW also that her godmother was Aretha Franklin?
Did you know Rhapsody in Blue…
12 February 1924
On February 12th, 1924, “Rhapsody In Blue,” by George Gershwin, performed for first time…and DID YOU KNOW that Gershwin rushed to compose the piece in just 5 weeks and left his own piano part to be improvised during his first performance.
Did you know Charlie Brown…
13 February 2000
On February 13th, 2000, The last Peanuts comic strip was published in newspapers, just hours after the death of creator Charles Schulz…and DID YOU KNOW that Charlie Brown’s look was modeled after Charles Schulz himself?
Did you know Valentine’s Day…
14 February 1929
On February 14th, 1929, The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in Chicago…and DID YOU KNOW that this event was the culmination of a gang war between arch rivals Al Capone and Bugs Moran.
Did you know Leon Spinks….
15 February 1978
On February 15th, 1978, Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world..and DID YOU KNOW that Spinks served as a US Marine for 3 years?
Did you know King Tut’s Tomb…
16 February 1923
On February 16th, 1923, Archaeologists open the tomb of King Tut…and DID YOU KNOW that his burial place had remained undisturbed for over 3,000 years?
Did you know that Michael Jordan’s Tongue…
17 February 1963
On February 17th, 1963, Michael Jordan was born…and DID YOU KNOW that his father and his father’s grandfather both stuck their tongues out when concentrating and Michael learned to do the same thing.
Did you know that Mark Twain…
18 February 1858
On February 18th, 1858, Mark Twain published “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”…and DID YOU KNOW that Ernest Hemingway famously declared that the book marked the beginning of American literature. Stating “There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.”
Did you know that the Chicago Seven…
19 February 1970
On February 19th, 1970, The Chicago Seven are acquitted of riot conspiracy charges and found guilty of inciting riot…and DID YOU KNOW they were originally the Chicago Eight? One defendant, Bobby Seale, was being tried separately.
Did you know John Glenn…
20 February 1948
On February 20th, 1948, John Glenn becomes first American to orbit Earth…and DID YOU KNOW that his time in space and three orbits around the planet only took 5 hours?
Did you know NASCAR…
21 February 1948
On February 21st, 1948, The National Association for Stock Car Racing or NASCAR was founded…and DID YOU KNOW that at 200 miles per hour, NASCAR drivers cover almost the length of a football field in just one second.
Did you know the Miracle on Ice…
22 February 1980
On February 22nd, 1980, U.S. hockey team beats the Soviets in the “Miracle on Ice”…and DID YOU KNOW that before this, the Soviet national team had not lost an Olympic hockey game since 1968.
Did you know the Polio Vaccine…
23 February 1954
On February, 23rd, 1954, A group of children from Arsenal Elementary School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receive the first injections of the new polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk…and DID YOU KNOW that it took over 60 years to get this vaccine after the first US polio epidemic in 1894?
Did you know the Alamo…
24 February 1836
On February 24th, 1836, in San Antonio, Texas, Colonel William Travis issues a call for help on behalf of the Texan troops defending the Alamo…and DID YOU KNOW The Alamo doesn’t have a basement — it actually has two.
Did you know that George Harrison…
25 February 1943
On February 25th, 1943, Lead guitarist for The Beatles George Harrison was born…and DID YOU KNOW without Harrison the classic Monty Python comedy “Life of Brian” may not have been filmed as he helped fund the movie when a major backer withdrew.
Did you know the Grand Canyon…
26 February 1919
On February 26th, 1919, The U.S. Congress established Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona…and DID YOU KNOW the Grand Canyon is bigger than the state of Rhode Island?
Did you know that Disco…
27 February 1980
On February 27th, 1980, “I Will Survive” wins the first—and last—Grammy ever awarded for Best Disco Recording…and DID YOU KNOW that the disco ball has been around as early as the Civil War?
Did you know that M*A*S*H. …
28 February 1983
On February 28th, 1983, The final episode of the immensely popular TV series M*A*S*H aired and was watched by an estimated 106 million viewers…and DID YOU KNOW that Klinger was only supposed to be on one episode?
(Bonus) Did you know that Hattie McDaniel…
29 February 1940
On February 29th, 1940, Hattie McDaniel becomes first African American actress to win an Oscar for her performance in “Gone With the Wind”…and DID YOU KNOW the author Margaret Mitchell decided to write the book out of boredom while she was healing from a broken ankle?
I look forward to these every night. I try to make sure I am up until midnight so I don’t have to wait until the next day to see them. Very interesting and always fun to see what you have chosen for the day.
Thank you! These little daily facts are interesting…makes it more fun to keep them going. 😁